Naughty Dog: We've been asked to push Ellie to the back of the box art
Last Of Us creative director and star Ashley Johnson tackle the sexism and game packaging
Never has game packaging been such a hot topic, and now Naughty Dog's creative director on Last Of Us, and its star Ashley Johnson, have spoken out over the decision to put main character Ellie front and centre.
“I feel like they don't put women on the covers because they're afraid that it won't sell," Ashley Johnson, who plays Ellie, told VG247.
"It's all gamers really know - and I don't want to be sexist by any means - but I get the feeling, generally, that they think game's won't sell as well with a woman on the cover, compared to some badass dude on the front.”
Creative director Neil Druckmann agreed, and revealed there had been pressure to go for a more traditional, less female look to the retail product.
“I agree with what Ashley said. I believe there's a misconception that if you put a girl or a woman on the cover, the game will sell less. I know I've been in discussions where we've been asked to push Ellie to the back and everyone at Naughty Dog just flat-out refused.”
The comments come just days after Irrational's Ken Levine was forced to defend his company's decision to go for a more generic, and male, style of packaging for Bioshock Infinite.
"The money we're spending on PR, the conversations with games journalists - that's for the fans. For the people who aren't informed, that's who the box art is for.”
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Andrew on 12th December 2012 4:53pm
In a sense, it's an unknown - even if mirror's edge sold 2m+ units with a female on the cover.
Sure, putting a female lead on the cover might not affect sales.
Alternatively, it might even make it stand out and result in more sales....
but... but... if they go conservative then it's reducing risk and avoiding the possibility that it will result in less sales.
Sad thinking, but understandable thinking.
The story is that they were asked; not that they refused.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Feargus Carroll on 12th December 2012 8:05pm
Apart from this? “I agree with what Ashley said. I believe there's a misconception that if you put a girl or a woman on the cover, the game will sell less. I know I've been in discussions where we've been asked to push Ellie to the back and everyone at Naughty Dog just flat-out refused.”
Not sure...
I do think that a lot of people (PC people, some parents and some news outlets) are going to be angered/offended/outraged that a game features a 12-year-old carrying a gun on the cover and in the game, the 12-year-old elementary school girl commits acts of violence.
Lollipop Chainsaw, Catherine, Blades of Time, DOA, Bayonetta, Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy XIII, etc. A lot of games feature a female on the cover of the box art.
I guess they'd probably want a pile of rocks in front of or on top of Lara Croft on that Tomb Raider reboot, but I'd bet that's not going to happen at all...
I mean look at God of War, an extremely pissed of albino white dude on the front cover sells.
Ultimatly, the cover should reflect the theme of the game, and the one for The Last of Us does a good job. If the theme of the game is good, it should be ok to put any character in, female or male.